The Trial of Your Faith

1 Peter 1:6-7  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith [the trial of your faith]—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Grieved – distress, heaviness, sorrow, sad, 

Various trials, manifold temptations – various in character, divers a putting to proof, experiment, adversity, temptation

Trial, tested – a testing, by implication trustworthiness

Faith – persuasion, credence, moral conviction 

Precious – valuable, costly, honored, esteemed, beloved, dear, honorable, had in reputation

Tried, tested – to test, approve, allow, discern, examine, 

Fire – fiery

Praise – laudation, a commendable thing, 

Honor – value, money paid, valuables, esteem, dignity

Appearing, revelation – disclosure, lighten, manifestation, 

1 Peter 4:12-13  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 

Pro 17:3  The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. 

Romans 5:3-5  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

James 1:2-4  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:12  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

So we know that tests and trials definitely will come our way. If we plan to walk with Jesus at all, we can expect tests and trials. God ordained it that way. Look at the scriptures. Don’t get upset or wonder why. Understand that it is a trial sent by God, with purpose. 

Some of the purposes include:

    The result of the test will bring glory to God

    To share in Christ’s sufferings

    We can rejoice when His glory is revealed in us

    It produces endurance, character, hope, steadfastness

    Causes us to be perfect [complete, mature] and complete, lacking nothing

    We receive the crown of life

We believe there are 3 major tests or trials specific to gaining more anointing. The scriptures teach us that it’s the anointing that breaks the yoke (Isaiah 10:27).  Let’s look at Jesus’ while He was here on earth.

Matthew 4:1-3  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him…   

1. This was right after He was baptized by John.
2. He had not yet begun His earthly ministry.
3. He was alone.
4. The temptations appealed to His flesh (food to eat, an adrenaline rush; indestructible, power over nations)
5. He overcame each time by not only knowing and quoting scripture but also living by it.

What can we learn by this example of Jesus?

    Our first major test will be to overcome our flesh. It’ll be nearly at the very beginning of our walk with Him. We will not be used in any form of ministry until we pass this first test. We basically overcome this test by obeying and submitting to what we know of the Word and saying no to our fleshly desires.

Luke’s account tells us how Jesus began His ministry after passing the tests of fleshly temptations. Luke 4:14  And Jesus returned in the power [ability] of the Spirit to Galilee.

Matthew 26:36-44  Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful [be distressed, be in heaviness] and troubled [distressed of mind, full of heaviness]. Then he said to them, “My soul [breath, spirit] is very sorrowful [grieved all around, intensely sad], even to death ; remain here, and watch with me.”  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 

Mark 14:32-39  And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed [affright] and troubled [distressed of mind, full of heaviness].  And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 

Luke 22:39-46  And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Hebrews 5:7  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 

What can we learn by this example of Jesus?

1. He was alone, even though He asked His disciples to pray with Him. He withdrew from them.
2. His very core soul/spirit was in great distress to the point of death.
3. This was a very personal struggle of the inner will. He really didn’t want to do it that way, but knew and submitted to the will of the Spirit.
4. Hebrews shows us that He was heard because of His reverence (caution, dread, fear).
5. Angels ministered to Him.
6. He fell on His face and prayed.
7. He got up from prayer twice, and returned again.

What can we glean from this and apply to our own trial of faith?

1. This will be a very lonely time of testing. We’ll want others to go with us, but it won’t happen. 
2. It’s the most intense, deepest trial of our soul/spirit’s will. 
3. It’s very personal and unique to us as an individual. We each have that one thing that we don’t really want to lay down. But, we know that we must submit to the will of the Spirit.
4. We can pray any words with any emotion so long as we maintain an attitude of reverence.
5. Angels will minister to us.
6. More than likely this trial will send us to a prostrate position.
7. I believe this shows that this trial of faith won’t be won in one prayer meeting. It’ll take multiple trips to our face, crying out with great tears to submit to His will.

If we follow the path Jesus took after that intense prayer time in the garden, we see He didn’t wrestle with any other part of it. Once He “won” the battle of wills, He completely submitted to the will of the Spirit.

• He didn’t fight the soldiers when they came to take Him. He just went.
• He didn’t fight back when they mocked Him, whipped Him, spit at Him, hit Him, put the crown of thorns on Him, stripped Him.
• He calmly spoke with Pilate, not disrespectfully, but honestly and simply.
• He willingly carried His cross even though His body was so frail and weak.
• He didn’t fight back or argue when they began to nail Him to the cross. 

Third Trial    Matthew 27:31-50    Mark 15:20-37     Luke 23:26-46        John 19:16-30

Luke 23:46  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 

Matthew 20:28  even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Hebrews 12:2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

John 12:27  “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

This is what happened to Jesus:

1. He only carried His cross part way, then another carried it behind Him.
2. He was nailed there at the third hour of the day (6am?)
3. A criminal was crucified on both sides of Him.
4. One mocked him.
5. One recognized his own sin and asked Jesus to remember him.
6. The soldiers offered Him wine mixed with gall (myrrh), he refused.
7. The land went completely dark at the sixth hour until the ninth (noon to 3pm?)
8. People that watched scoffed and mocked; they gambled for His clothing.
9. The inscription over His head was meant to be an insult, but it was true.
10.  He cried out, “into your hand I commit my spirit” then breathed His last. 

We can relate in:

1. We are not meant to carry our cross all day every day. Only a certain distance.
2. The beginning of our trial of faith for our spirit begins early…??
3. There will be others “around” us.
4. Some mocking us.
5. Some honest, sincere, repentant.
6. Sin is bitter tasting.
7. There will be a time of not being able to see much at all. Questioning. 
8. Very public thing. Lots of responses, some scoffing. Always is in any crowd.
9. People may want to accuse us of our true calling, but it’s still true.
10. The passing of the test. Complete surrender into His hand. 

By these accounts, we can see that we as believers and followers of Jesus will more than likely experience the same types of trials of our faith: body/flesh, soul, and spirit. We can watch and follow Jesus’ example to help us come out of each trial victoriously. Jeus is perfect in every way, so each trial for Him was a one time event. For us, imperfect humans, we should not be too surprised if we end up facing a similar trial multiple times. It is my personal opinion that in order to grow and mature we must first ‘pass’ a test or trial before we go deeper spiritually.